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Lobbestael makes history at quarterback

Oak Harbor High School graduate Marshall Lobbestael gets off a pass in a 2006 playoff game against Mariner.

— image credit: Jim Woolbright/Whidbey News-Times

Oak Harbor High School graduate Marshall Lobbestael, the Pac-10 Conference Offensive Player of the Week, gets the nod to start for Washington State University in today’s homecoming game against Oregon.

The red-shirt freshman quarterback was thrust into the position after the Cougars’ starting quarterback Kevin Lopina and backup Gary Rogers were both injured in last Saturday’s 48-9 win over Portland State.

Lobbestael is one of the very few Oak Harbor High School graduates to play in a Division I college game and is the first to start at the quarterback position.

In the second half of last week’s game against the Vikings, he was 9-for-12 in passing for 149 yards and two touchdowns, with no interceptions. His effort earned him Player of the Week honors in the PAC-10.

During his senior year at Oak Harbor, Lobbestael was voted the Washington state class 4A Offensive Player of the Year.

Prior to the Portland State game, he had thrown just two passes in his college career but has the heart of a winner, leading Oak Harbor to the 2006 state 4A championship.

Getting his first college start against the usually strong Oregon team could prove to be a trial.

The Ducks had been rated among the nation’s top 10 collegiate teams before last week’s upset loss to Boise State and will be smarting heading onto the field in Pullman for today’s game.

The game will be telecast on Fox Sports Northwest television, with game time set for 3:15 p.m.

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